What if closing your studio isn't failure but the smartest business decision you could make?

Nine days into 2026 and I'm seeing patterns emerge that tell me this year is going to force a lot of photographers to make hard choices. Not because the industry is dying, but because the old models aren't working the way they used to.

I walk through my predictions for where professional photography is heading this year. Studio closures and why they bring relief. Virtual summits that need to stop being cash grabs. Podcast networks built on community instead of sponsor money. The rise of YouTube and live streaming as real revenue streams. And the anti-AI revolt that's already starting as photographers realize it's not the time-saver we were promised.

What You'll Learn

Why studio photographers are closing their doors and feeling relieved instead of defeated about it

How to look at your studio business like an accountant and make decisions without emotion clouding judgment

What makes virtual summits feel like money grabs and how to produce them with actual value

Why podcast networks built around community will outlast the ones chasing sponsorship dollars first

How YouTube and live streaming create diversified income streams beyond traditional photography

What vlogging and creator shows mean for photographers who want to connect with audiences differently

Why online live selling will become a bigger part of how photographers market their services

How AI is actually slowing us down instead of making us more efficient

What the anti-AI revolt looks like as photographers wake up to the limitations of generated content

Why 2026 is a pivot year for deciding what you actually want your photography business to look like

Listen & Subscribe

Never miss an episode. Subscribe to Generator on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Enjoyed this episode? Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover these conversations.

Connect with Generator

Website: generatorpodcast.com | stonetreecreative.com Instagram: @generatorpodcast | @stonetreecreative TikTok: @generatorpodcast YouTube: @generatorpodcast

Interested in being a guest on Generator Live? Email [email protected]

Generator releases new episodes every Wednesday at 7pm Eastern, with live working sessions on Friday mornings at 9am Eastern.

Host: Matt Stagliano, Stonetree Creative, Maine

About Generator

Generator is a podcast for working creatives who are tired of the highlight reel. Hosted by Maine portrait photographer Matt Stagliano, each episode digs into the real struggles of building a creative business, managing mental health, and doing work that matters. No corporate speak. No empty motivation. Just honest conversations about what it takes to keep creating when the world keeps telling you to do something different.

Keywords: photography industry predictions 2026, studio photography business, podcast networks for photographers, YouTube for photographers, live streaming photography content, anti-AI movement, virtual summit production, photography business diversification, vlogging for photographers, creative business strategy, Maine photographer, professional photography trends

Here's what I use to make Generator a reality:

SOFTWARE

ECamm - What I use to live stream, record my video, and conduct interviews (Only for Mac)

https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=generator

Captivate.fm - The software I use to publish every audio episode and distribute it everywhere

https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yjuymdqo

17Hats - Get 50% off your first year of the best CRM for entrepreneurs

https://referrals.17hats.com/card/stonetree

BorisFX Crumplepop- Clean up audio faster than ever before

https://borisfx.com/?a_aid=68bb347aa27d1

Cloudways - Solid, affordable Hosting for my wordpress websites

https://vrlps.co/f83e6os/cp

Pixieset - Get $20 off my favorite way to show clients their galleries

https://pixieset.com/ref/djDARTY4pa

WisprFlow - My typing gets slow, so being able to dictate anything in any app makes Life a lot easier.

https://wisprflow.ai/r?MATT1716

HARDWARE

My Entire Studio Setup - This is an ongoing list of all the equipment I use in my home studio

https://www.amazon.com/shop/stonetreecreative/list/UI27EORM80W1?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_91ERYXJ9ZAQ1E4C0Q1VT

Small print: Some of these are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I get a small commission at no cost to you. I only recommend stuff I actually use.

Planning a live show format terrifies me, but staying stuck terrifies me more.

I'm rebuilding Generator from the ground up for 2026. It's about creating something sustainable that actually serves the people who need these conversations.

In this episode, I walk through the new show structure I'm testing, why I'm shifting from pre-recorded to live, and what it takes to run a creative business when you're a team of one dealing with ADHD, time scarcity, and the constant pull to just scroll instead of create.

What You'll Learn

• How to structure a live show with segments that keep you focused without killing spontaneity
• Why pre-recording and editing for hours might be holding you back from consistent output
• What the ADHD tax really costs solopreneurs and how to work with your brain instead of against it
• Why building an email list matters more than vanity metrics on social platforms
• How to set up a multi-camera podcast studio without spending a fortune on cinema cameras
• Why surrounding yourself with creators outside your niche changes everything about your motivation
• What it means to build a business that can run without you constantly propping it up
• How to use live streaming as a forcing function to stop overthinking and start shipping
• Why vulnerability in content creation isn't weakness but the thing that builds real connection
• What tools and workflows actually move the needle when you're building alone

Resources Mentioned

• Liz Wilcox Email Marketing Membership
• Ecamm Creator Camp
• Fuji X-T4 and H2S cameras
• YoloCam S3 webcam
• Hollyland Lyra camera
• OBSBOT Meet SE webcam
• Shure MV7X and MV7 Plus microphones
• Elgato Stream Deck XL
• CalDigit and Satechi powered hubs

Connect with Matt

Website: generatorpodcast.com | stonetreecreative.com

Instagram: @generatorpodcast | @stonetreecreative

Download the free Generator Guest Prep Guide: DM "guide" to @generatorpodcast on Instagram

Generator releases new episodes every Wednesday at 7pm Eastern, with live working sessions on Friday mornings at 9am Eastern.

About Generator

Generator is a podcast for working creatives who are tired of the highlight reel. Hosted by Maine portrait photographer Matt Stagliano, each episode digs into the real struggles of building a creative business, managing mental health, and doing work that matters. No corporate speak. No empty motivation. Just honest conversations about what it takes to keep creating when the world keeps telling you to do something different.

What if the perfect workflow you're building is just another way to avoid making the hard decisions?

I screwed up a camera review this week. Made a factual error, took it down, and my first thought wasn't to slow down and check my work. It was to build a better system. A friend called me out: "You're not rushing because you lack a system. You're rushing because you're afraid of being irrelevant." This episode is what happened when I had to face that truth.

This is a solo episode where I break down how my ADHD brain turns anxiety into projects, why analyzing my thought patterns became another layer of avoidance, and what I'm actually cutting from my content for the next six months. If you've ever told yourself you need a better workflow before you can start, this one's for you.

• Why turning anxiety into a "system to build" feels productive but keeps you from actually solving the problem
• How ADHD brains need constraints, not more sophisticated systems, to work with scattered creative energy
• What happens when you try to make three different types of content simultaneously and why nothing gets the attention it deserves
• The difference between speed and direction, and why chaos looks like productivity when you're moving fast enough
• Why trying to do everything at 60% quality serves no one, especially not the people you're trying to help
• How the fear of running out of time creates panic that looks like action but leads nowhere
• What it means to stop using analysis as a way to avoid commitment and actually make decisions
• Why the only system that matters is asking yourself each day: did I help someone, and did I make something that matters
• The real reason creatives build elaborate workflows instead of doing the work they're afraid to commit to
• How to recognize when you're using complexity as an excuse not to choose a direction

Never miss an episode. Subscribe to Generator on your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Enjoyed this episode? Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover these conversations.

Website: generatorpodcast.com

Instagram: @generatorpodcast

TikTok: @generatorpodcast

YouTube: @generatorpodcast

Host: Matt Stagliano - Stonetree Creative, Maine

Generator is a podcast about the creative process, personal growth, and what it means to build something meaningful. Hosted by portrait photographer Matt Stagliano.

Here's what I use to make Generator a reality: 

SOFTWARE

ECamm - What I use to live stream, record my video, and conduct interviews (Only for Mac)

https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=generator

Captivate.fm - The software I use to publish every audio episode and distribute it everywhere

https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yjuymdqo

17Hats - Get 50% off your first year of the best CRM for entrepreneurs

https://referrals.17hats.com/card/stonetree

BorisFX Crumplepop- Clean up audio faster than ever before 

https://borisfx.com/?a_aid=68bb347aa27d1

Cloudways - Solid, affordable Hosting for my wordpress websites

https://vrlps.co/f83e6os/cp

Pixieset - Get $20 off my favorite way to show clients their galleries

https://pixieset.com/ref/djDARTY4pa

WisprFlow - My typing gets slow, so being able to dictate anything in any app makes Life a lot easier. 

https://wisprflow.ai/r?MATT1716

HARDWARE

My Entire Studio Setup - This is an ongoing list of all the equipment I use in my home studio

https://www.amazon.com/shop/stonetreecreative/list/UI27EORM80W1?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_91ERYXJ9ZAQ1E4C0Q1VT

Small print: Some of these are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I get a small commission at no cost to you. I only recommend stuff I actually use.

Keywords: ADHD and creativity, creative workflow, content creation strategy, photography podcast, creative business, overcoming creative blocks, productivity for creatives, photographer mindset, content strategy for photographers, creative entrepreneur, Maine photographer, finding your voice as a creator

Your brain is guessing what it sees. All the time. Understanding how vision actually works changed how I approach every portrait session.

After learning about change blindness, mirror neurons, and how our brains process visual information, I realized something. The technical choices I make as a photographer aren't just about aesthetics. They're about communication. About helping someone see themselves differently. This video breaks down the science behind how we see, the practical application behind the camera, and why philosophy matters just as much as f-stops.

Most photography education focuses on the what. Camera settings. Lighting ratios. Posing guides.

This is about the why. Why certain light makes someone feel safe. Why breaking eye contact for two seconds can kill a connection. Why the images clients love most are rarely the ones I think are technically perfect.

I talk about contrast and color temperature, sure. But also about Aristotle's concept of logos, mirror neurons in neuroscience, and what beginner's mind from Zen Buddhism teaches us about staying curious. Because good portrait photography lives at the intersection of all three: science, philosophy, and consistent practice.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

-Why your eyes only focus on a thumbnail-sized area at any moment and your brain constructs everything else based on prediction and past experience

-How contrast, color temperature, and symmetry trigger specific emotional responses because of millions of years of human evolution

-The difference between knowing the technical rules and understanding which rule serves the specific person in front of you right now

-Why mirror neurons mean your subject unconsciously picks up every bit of stress or disconnection you bring into the session

-How treating photography as a practice instead of a skill you master once keeps you learning from every single session

CONNECT WITH MATT:

Website: https://stonetreecreative.com

Instagram: @stonetreecreative

Portfolio: https://stonetreecreative.com/portfolio

Here's what I use to make Generator a reality: 

SOFTWARE

ECamm - What I use to live stream, record my video, and conduct interviews (Only for Mac)

https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=generator

Captivate.fm - The software I use to publish every audio episode and distribute it everywhere

https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yjuymdqo

17Hats - Get 50% off your first year of the best CRM for entrepreneurs

https://referrals.17hats.com/card/stonetree

BorisFX Crumplepop- Clean up audio faster than ever before 

https://borisfx.com/?a_aid=68bb347aa27d1

HARDWARE

My Entire Studio Setup - This is an ongoing list of all the equipment I use in my home studio

https://www.amazon.com/shop/stonetreecreative/list/UI27EORM80W1?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_91ERYXJ9ZAQ1E4C0Q1VT

Small print: Some of these are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I get a small commission at no cost to you. I only recommend stuff I actually use.

CAN PODCASTS SAVE PHOTOGRAPHY?

Photography conferences used to launch careers. Now they're expensive reunions that most photographers can't afford.

After watching traditional photography education collapse and virtual summits turn into forgettable cash grabs, I realized we need something different. Not another conference. An actual system.

This is a solo episode where I break down what's broken. Photography conferences are becoming inaccessible. Virtual summits have become content dumps nobody remembers. Associations stopped leading. The sponsorship model that funded everything fell apart. And educators are stuck trading their time for exposure while photographers pay more and learn less.

So I'm building a photography podcast network. Not just a collection of shows. An ecosystem where podcasts feed community, community feeds virtual conferences, conferences create premium content, and that content incubates new talent that cycles back. Everything feeds everything else. It's a flywheel, not a one-off event.

This isn't about replacing what exists or competing with anyone. It's about filling the gap they left behind. Creating ongoing conversation instead of annual events. Building sustainable revenue for educators instead of asking them to work for free. Giving photographers a place to stay connected, keep learning, and stay in the work they love.

This is the way forward.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Why photography conferences became expensive reunions instead of career-launching opportunities for working photographers

How virtual summits turned into forgettable content dumps and why nobody remembers what they learned

The difference between one-off events and an ongoing ecosystem that actually keeps photographers connected

Why the traditional sponsorship model collapsed and what sustainable revenue for educators looks like instead

How a podcast network flywheel creates value at every stage instead of just extracting it from creatives

If this resonated with you, hit subscribe and drop a comment below. Tell me what you need from a photography community. And if you want more Generator episodes, check out the full playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzasfyiMDyZ1ZhVsRmr4620ecEQItlqW0

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE NETWORK?

If you're a podcaster with a different voice and perspective, reach out.

If you're an educator tired of trading time for exposure, let's talk.

DM me on Instagram or email through the website.

#PhotographyPodcast #CreativeBusiness #PhotographyEducation #ContentCreation #PodcastNetwork #CreativeCommunity #PhotographyConference #ArtistLife

Calls to Action

• Website: https://generatorpodcast.com or https://stonetreecreative.com

Instagram: @generatorpodcast or @stonetreecreative

• More episodes: https://generatorpodcast.com
• Subscribe to Generator: Never miss an episode – subscribe on your favorite podcast app.
• Leave a Review: Head over to https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/generator/id1668192673 and leave us a 5 Star review if you liked the show! Help others discover this podcast.
• Follow on Social Media: Connect with us on Instagram or TikTok @generatorpodcast or on YouTube @stonetreecreative
• © 2025 Generator Podcast / Stonetree Creative. All Rights Reserved.

What if the secret to a sustainable creative business isn't working harder, but starting your day differently?

Angela Anderson is a portrait photographer and educator based in Tucson, Arizona. She runs a studio that doubles as an education center, teaching eight-week intensive courses that take beginning photographers from shooting in automatic mode to running a full photography business. After years of chasing what she thought success should look like, she rebuilt her entire approach around a morning routine that changed everything.

I sit down with Angela to talk about the messy reality of building a photography business while managing mental health struggles. We dig into how a single morning routine transformed not just her work but her entire relationship with being a creative business owner. This conversation goes deep on what it actually takes to keep showing up, even when you're barely functioning, and why that might be the real definition of success.

1. How to use a structured morning routine to create momentum when depression makes everything feel impossible. Angela breaks down the exact sequence that pulls her out of bed and into action.
2. Why teaching and mentorship can breathe new life into your photography business when client work alone isn't enough. She explains the shift from pure client work to creating an education model that serves her community.
3. What it means to measure success by persistence rather than profit. Angela shares why she defines winning as simply still being in the game, and how that mindset has kept her moving forward for a decade.
4. How to transition from wanting to be an artist to actually becoming one. She talks about recognizing her limitations with drawing and painting, then finding her voice through a camera instead.
5. Why affirmations and visualization actually work when you pair them with a system. Angela describes how the Miracle Morning framework gave structure to concepts that previously felt too abstract.
6. What starting photography with a Canon T3i and zero mentorship teaches you about resourcefulness. She remembers the early days of figuring everything out through books and online courses.
7. How to build an eight-week intensive course that takes students from manual mode to portfolio shoots. Angela outlines the curriculum that covers technical skills, business setup, pricing, marketing, and hands-off portfolio builds.
8. Why planning your calendar six months out creates breathing room instead of restriction. She explains how mapping workshops, courses, and conferences in advance helps her protect time for herself.
9. What it looks like to give yourself permission to struggle while still showing up. Angela gets honest about the days she can barely function but still makes those baby steps forward anyway.
10. How authentic connection at conferences creates lasting relationships in the photography community. She reflects on the power of really seeing people and making them feel valued in crowded industry spaces.

Angela Anderson

Portrait photographer and photography educator in Tucson, Arizona

Instagram: @angelaandersonportrait

Website: Under construction (check Instagram for updates)

Never miss an episode. Subscribe to Generator on your favorite podcast app:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Enjoyed this episode? Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover these conversations.

Website: generatorpodcast.com

Instagram: @generatorpodcast

TikTok: @generatorpodcast

YouTube: @generatorpodcast

Host: Matt Stagliano - Stonetree Creative, Maine

Generator is a podcast about the creative process, personal growth, and what it means to build something meaningful. Hosted by portrait photographer Matt Stagliano.

What if the thing you're best at feels too easy to charge money for?

Tracy Matthews has built multiple seven-figure businesses, taught over 9,500 jewelry designers through Flourish & Thrive Academy, and lost everything in the 2008 crash before rebuilding from scratch. She's learned that most creatives are stuck because they think work needs to be hard to be valuable. Spoiler: it doesn't.

I sat down with Tracy to talk about creativity, business growth, and what it actually takes to build something that doesn't burn you out. We get into why everyone is creative (even finance guys), how your business can only grow as much as you grow internally, and why the work that comes easiest to you is exactly what you should be charging the most money for. We also talk about storytelling that sells without feeling gross, and this concept of on season versus off season that I've been obsessing over since my conversation with Brandon Washington.

1. Why everyone is creative, even if you swear you're not, and how reframing what creativity actually means changes everything about how you see your work
2. How the thing that comes easiest to you is your natural gift, not something you should discount or give away for free
3. Why your business can only grow as much as you grow internally, and what that means for the mindset work most people avoid
4. The difference between being an artist, a visionary, and an architect, and why understanding your creative type matters for how you build your business
5. How to tell stories that actually sell without feeling like you're selling, by making it about your customer instead of your ego
6. What it looks like to reinvent yourself every seven years, and why that pattern isn't random but a natural part of growth
7. How to recognize when you're burned out versus when you're just in the wrong season of your business
8. Why the nervous system plays a bigger role in your business success than you think, and how to work with it instead of against it
9. The concept of on season versus off season in your work, and why constant creation mode isn't sustainable or necessary
10. What it means to feed a machine versus build something that actually aligns with who you are now, not who you were ten years ago

Tracy Matthews

Founder of Flourish & Thrive Academy and host of Creatives Rule the World podcast

Website: tracymatthews.com/generator (free storytelling framework)

Instagram: @iamtracymatthews

Podcast: Creatives Rule the World

Flourish & Thrive Academy: flourishthriveacademy.com

Never miss an episode. Subscribe to Generator on your favorite podcast app:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Enjoyed this episode? Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover these conversations.

Website: generatorpodcast.com

Instagram: @generatorpodcast

TikTok: @generatorpodcast

YouTube: @generatorpodcast

Host: Matt Stagliano - Stonetree Creative, Maine

Generator is a podcast about the creative process, personal growth, and what it means to build something meaningful. Hosted by portrait photographer Matt Stagliano.

• Keywords: creative business, jewelry design, creative entrepreneur, business growth mindset, storytelling for business, creative burnout, personal branding photographer, solopreneur, reinvention, business seasons, nervous system regulation, Flourish & Thrive Academy, Tracy Matthews, creative mindset, Maine photographer

What do you do when your business feels personal and a bad year makes you question everything?

Ashleigh Taylor is a portrait and boudoir photographer based near Los Angeles whose work blends editorial edge with raw emotion. She's built a reputation for creating images that feel like they belong in a magazine, but she's also someone who isn't afraid to talk about the hard parts of running a creative business. In this conversation, Ashleigh opens up about navigating one of the toughest years of her career and what it taught her about identity, resilience, and staying true to yourself when the ground shifts beneath you.

We talk about the difference between business failure and personal failure, why hobbies that cost money might be the best investment you make, and how to show up for clients when you're barely holding it together yourself. This one gets real.

1. Why separating your identity from your business might save you when things go wrong
2. How investing in hobbies that bring you joy, even expensive ones, can pull you out of creative burnout and remind you who you are outside of work
3. What it means to mask your struggles during client sessions and when that's necessary versus harmful to your own wellbeing
4. Why the most talented photographers aren't always the ones who succeed, and what actually matters more than technical skill when building a sustainable business
5. How to recognize when you're falling into victim mindset and the practical steps Ashleigh takes to snap out of it
6. What creative integrity looks like in practice, including when to turn down lucrative work that doesn't align with your values
7. Why having a trusted hair and makeup artist on your team creates transition time that helps you land emotionally before a shoot starts
8. How to market yourself from a place of confidence rather than constantly trying to prove your worth to potential clients
9. The difference between authentic coaching and manipulation, and what red flags to watch for when investing in education
10. Why doing creative work without attaching outcomes or expectations to it is the hardest and most important practice for long-term sustainability

Ashleigh Taylor

Portrait & Boudoir Photographer, Los Angeles

Website: ashleightaylorportrait.com

Instagram: @ashleightaylorportrait

Facebook: Ashleigh Taylor Photography

Never miss an episode. Subscribe to Generator on your favorite podcast app:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Enjoyed this episode?

Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover these conversations.

Website: generatorpodcast.com

Instagram: @generatorpodcast

TikTok: @generatorpodcast

YouTube: @generatorpodcast

Host: Matt Stagliano

Stonetree Creative, Greenwood, Maine

Generator is a podcast about the creative process, personal growth, and what it means to build something meaningful. Hosted by portrait photographer Matt Stagliano.

Keywords: portrait photography business, boudoir photography, creative burnout, photography business challenges, Los Angeles photographer, mental health for photographers, business identity, creative integrity, Sue Bryce mentorship, photography coaching, overcoming business failure, photographer mindset, creative hobbies

What color was your childhood fridge? For photographer Ben Marcum, it was that unforgettable avocado green—and that odd little memory sets the tone for an honest, funny, and insightful hour about life, art, and connection.

Ben, based in Louisville, Kentucky, has built a thriving portrait and boudoir studio rooted in authenticity. We talk about how his years in theater shaped his ability to read people, how video became his strongest storytelling tool, and how he keeps things light, human, and deeply real—both online and in-studio.

He opens up about burnout, fitness, therapy, and the never-ending tug-of-war between creativity and comparison. It’s a candid look at what it takes to build a creative business without losing your sanity or sense of humor.

Podcast Title: Generator

Episode Title: Ben Marcum: Don't Make An Avocado Green Fridge

Episode Number: 61

Publish Date: 6 Oct 2025

Episode Overview

• How short-form video can strengthen client relationships and attract real fans

• Why authentic storytelling beats social-media trends every time

• Ben’s pre-session rituals and grounding practices for emotional shoots

• The difference between directing and collaborating with clients

• How to handle self-criticism, mental health, and burnout as a creative

• Why timeless portraits outlast the algorithm

Enjoyed the episode?

Hit Like, Subscribe, and tell me in the comments what part resonated most with you. Your feedback helps more creators find these conversations.

🎧 Watch the full Generator playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLInsertYourGeneratorPlaylistHere

📍 Connect with Ben Marcum:

Website: https://www.benmarcum.com or https://boudoirbybenmarcum

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benmarcumphoto

📍 Connect with me, Matt Stagliano:

Website: https://stonetreecreative.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stonetreecreative

Podcast: https://generatorpodcast.com

Calls to Action

• Website: https://generatorpodcast.com
• Subscribe to Generator: Never miss an episode – subscribe on your favorite podcast app.
• Leave a Review: Head over to https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/generator/id1668192673 and leave us a 5 Star review if you liked the show! Help others discover this podcast.
• Follow on Social Media: Connect with us on Instagram or TikTok @generatorpodcast or on YouTube @stonetreecreative

#PhotographyPodcast #CreativeEntrepreneurship #AuthenticStorytelling #PortraitPhotography #BoudoirPhotography

Episode Overview

How do you create portraits that feel more like stories than snapshots?

In this episode of Generator, I sit down with Judith Hill, a fine art portrait photographer based in Nashville, whose work is filled with texture, emotion, and intention. Judith has built a style that slows everything down, where connection is the point, not the afterthought. We talk about how she went from second-guessing herself to directing shoots with clarity and confidence.

Judith opens up about the importance of creative direction, trusting her gut, and why her best work happens when she stops trying to chase the "right" way of doing things. This conversation is about staying curious, letting the process evolve, and making space for the work to breathe.

Podcast Title: Generator

Episode Title: Judith Hill: The Universal Power of Connection

Episode Number: 60

Publish Date: 29 Sept 2025

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why slowing down can actually make your work more impactful

• How Judith approaches creative direction and builds intentional shoots

• What it means to “listen to the work” instead of controlling it

• How to trust your ideas even when they don’t fit a trend

• The challenges of creating art while also running a business

• Why planning matters—but overthinking kills momentum

• What it looks like to lead a client through an experience, not just a session

• How Judith blends narrative, styling, and trust to create soulful portraits

Resources and Links

• WEBSITE: www.judithhillphotography.com or www.judithhill.academy
• FACEBOOK: judith hill photography
• INSTAGRAM: @judithhillphoto + @the_judithhill

Calls to Action

• Website: https://generatorpodcast.com
• Subscribe to Generator: Never miss an episode – subscribe on your favorite podcast app.
• Leave a Review: Head over to https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/generator/id1668192673 and leave us a 5 Star review if you liked the show! Help others discover this podcast.
• Follow on Social Media: Connect with us on Instagram or TikTok @generatorpodcast or on YouTube @stonetreecreative

Hashtags:

#JudithHill #PortraitPhotography #CreativeProcess #GeneratorPodcast #StorytellingThroughPortraits